Today Show...Skinny While Pregnant

KeyLime81 · July 2011

Just saw an interesting segment on the Today Show about weight gain and pregnancy...specifically how thin actresses and models have changed our perception of pregnancy and weight gain.

Link to Story Article (They'll probably have a video up later today)

jenine482 · July 2011

Lately I've been feeling concerned about this myself, I'm slightly ahead of the "normal" range for what I should gain, but nothing crazy at this point. But having been a person that was 50lbs over weight it's very hard to see the scale creeping in that direction again. I do understand that I need to gain weight, I'm not stupid about it. I would love to gain no more than 35lbs but I get that might not be realist for me and I could gain 45 or more. I really don't want to think about this and just enjoy my pregnancy, I will hate myself later I'm sure. My husband is great at keeping me in check, telling me "you will kick the weight off in no time like you did before". He's right, if I did it once I can do it again. Beside running after a baby all day is bound to cause some weight lose, right

Summer0715 · July 2011

Interesting. Watching the scale increase is hard - feeling the extra weight is hard - but knowing you are giving your developing baby what it needs does help

kwinkle1980 · July 2011

Thanks for posting the link. This is a very interesting topic. I don't think the focus while pregnant should be "skinny" or "fat" but HEALTHY! I don't think it is easy for any of us to gain the weight. Fortunately, I don't know anyone who has had "mommyrexia" and I think most mothers focus on doing what is best for the child. Pregnancy is not a time to eat whatever you want or to eat for two, nor is it a time to diet. It is a time to focus on balanced meals and getting the correct nutrients for your child.

lala1608 · July 2011

I think that most of the drama surrounding this topic is just that...drama. Yes, some women stay thin while pregnant...that doesn't necessarily mean they are depriving their child. For example, Victoria Beckham's daughter was born weighing 7 lb10 oz, hardly a small baby.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I gained 20 pounds (pre-pregnancy I was 5'7" 130 lbs.) I ate healthy and exercised during pregnancy. I was thin (except for my bump) throughout my whole pregnancy. My son was born weighing 8 lbs 3 oz. and I was back in my skinny jeans 2 months later.

With my second pregnancy, I didn't exercise as much and didn't eat as healthy...I gained 40 pounds and my son was born weighing 7 lbs. It took me forever to lose the weight afterwards.

For me, the first pregnancy was alot more enjoyable so I'm trying to go that route again.

To the women who gain 50+ pounds and are content, more power to you! I just think it's unfair to stereotype the women who stay skinny, most of them give birth to perfectly healthy (and normal sized) babies.

HazelBee22 · July 2011

I've been pretty self-conscious about my weight gain lately. Or more accurately, my LACK of weight gain. After losing so much in the first tri I am only up 6 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. I've been concerned that I haven't gained enough and that I'm not taking proper care of myself. Fortunately my doctor wasn't concerned with it at all, but I'm still a worrier. I never expected myself to be on this end of the spectrum.

kwinkle1980 · July 2011

lala1608, I agree with you. What I have learned from being pregnant is that my body went into auto pilot and I didn't have control over everything like I thought I would. Anyway, actresses are not necessarily anorexic or too thin, like we would want to believe. They have nutritionists and personal trainers and expensive doctors to guide them through pregnancy. We have a VERY skewed idea in the US of what a healthy weight is--and I am talking we think overweight is normal.

That said, I believe strongly that being healthy should be our #1 focus.

jchytil · July 2011

I think that this is a great segment that they did. There are a lot of pregnant women who are obsessed or feel pressured to not gain weight during their pregnancy or getting it off right away after baby. Which is sad. I tend to think Victoria Beckham does not look healthy most of the time to me, But obviously she had a normal sized baby and it seems like she was eating while she was pregnant. But like the segment said the effects of not eating right and being healthy during your pregnancy could cause developmental issues that you may not see until down the road.

ladykatie81 · July 2011

lala1608:

I think that most of the drama surrounding this topic is just that...drama. Yes, some women stay thin while pregnant...that doesn't necessarily mean they are depriving their child. For example, Victoria Beckham's daughter was born weighing 7 lb10 oz, hardly a small baby.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I gained 20 pounds (pre-pregnancy I was 5'7" 130 lbs.) I ate healthy and exercised during pregnancy. I was thin (except for my bump) throughout my whole pregnancy. My son was born weighing 8 lbs 3 oz. and I was back in my skinny jeans 2 months later.

With my second pregnancy, I didn't exercise as much and didn't eat as healthy...I gained 40 pounds and my son was born weighing 7 lbs. It took me forever to lose the weight afterwards.

For me, the first pregnancy was alot more enjoyable so I'm trying to go that route again.

To the women who gain 50+ pounds and are content, more power to you! I just think it's unfair to stereotype the women who stay skinny, most of them give birth to perfectly healthy (and normal sized) babies.

Just like some pregnant women have a hard time gaining weight, there is also the other side of the spectrum. Some pregnant women can't help but gain weight. We eat normally and exercise but our bodies continue to blimp up. I don't think we're "OK with it".

ladykatie81 · July 2011

lala1608:

I think that most of the drama surrounding this topic is just that...drama. Yes, some women stay thin while pregnant...that doesn't necessarily mean they are depriving their child. For example, Victoria Beckham's daughter was born weighing 7 lb10 oz, hardly a small baby.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I gained 20 pounds (pre-pregnancy I was 5'7" 130 lbs.) I ate healthy and exercised during pregnancy. I was thin (except for my bump) throughout my whole pregnancy. My son was born weighing 8 lbs 3 oz. and I was back in my skinny jeans 2 months later.

With my second pregnancy, I didn't exercise as much and didn't eat as healthy...I gained 40 pounds and my son was born weighing 7 lbs. It took me forever to lose the weight afterwards.

For me, the first pregnancy was alot more enjoyable so I'm trying to go that route again.

To the women who gain 50+ pounds and are content, more power to you! I just think it's unfair to stereotype the women who stay skinny, most of them give birth to perfectly healthy (and normal sized) babies.

Just like some pregnant women have a hard time gaining weight, there is also the other side of the spectrum. Some pregnant women can't help but gain weight. We eat normally and exercise but our bodies continue to blimp up. I don't think we're "content with it".

ladykatie81 · July 2011

lala1608:

I think that most of the drama surrounding this topic is just that...drama. Yes, some women stay thin while pregnant...that doesn't necessarily mean they are depriving their child. For example, Victoria Beckham's daughter was born weighing 7 lb10 oz, hardly a small baby.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I gained 20 pounds (pre-pregnancy I was 5'7" 130 lbs.) I ate healthy and exercised during pregnancy. I was thin (except for my bump) throughout my whole pregnancy. My son was born weighing 8 lbs 3 oz. and I was back in my skinny jeans 2 months later.

With my second pregnancy, I didn't exercise as much and didn't eat as healthy...I gained 40 pounds and my son was born weighing 7 lbs. It took me forever to lose the weight afterwards.

For me, the first pregnancy was alot more enjoyable so I'm trying to go that route again.

To the women who gain 50+ pounds and are content, more power to you! I just think it's unfair to stereotype the women who stay skinny, most of them give birth to perfectly healthy (and normal sized) babies.

Just like some pregnant women have a hard time gaining weight, there is also the other side of the spectrum. Some pregnant women can't help but gain weight. We eat normally and exercise but our bodies continue to blimp up. I don't think we're "content with it".

lala1608 · July 2011

My point is that women need to stop beating themselves (and each other) up over weight. If you gain more than the recommended amount and you feel good and are making healthy choices than who cares. If the extra weight bothers you, then you might want to adjust some things. Same thing for thin women...it's about liking yourself. The extra weight bothered me and actually made me feel depressed after the baby came so I'm not going down that road again.

indomesticbliss · July 2011

Personally, I see a lot of the post-baby weight loss as another mommy competition. During pregnancy your goal should be to eat healthy for your baby. This doesn't mean you can't have a burger and fries, but do everything in moderation-which is the same way you should eat pre-pregnancy IMO. You will gain when your body is ready, and if you are eating a well balanced healthy diet, you will gain as much as your body needs, be it 15 lbs or 80 lbs.

People are supremely body obsessed. With this pregnancy, at 18 weeks I'm not showing, and I cannot tell you how many times I get the "I hate you! You look so small!" crap. Seriously? My body is growing this baby in a very different way than with my first, and I'm sure I will LOOK pregnant eventually, but to hear "I hate you" because of how my body is growing, it's just sad.

haleymay18 · July 2011

I have already gained 21 lbs. That is a 1lb per week (actually more because I get the two free weeks before conception). Anyways, I don't care. I just got some spanx & they make me care EVEN less. Although my MIL told me that I am starting to look pregnant from behind which apparently I didn't with my last pregnancy. I must have been an optical illusion last time & now my body is displaying the God's honest truth of carrying another child. Its cool. I own it. I am not fat, I am gaining maternal tissue storage.

DiademChi · July 2011

I think having positive family role models helps the most. My mother gained a lot of weight during her pregnancies, but she also lost them again quickly and returned to her normal skinny size -- healthily, without dieting, just eating right and moderate exercise, gardening and with house chores. I was brought up in a family where the large pregnancy belly was praised and the expectation was to eat healthily, and with proper diet and exercise it'll come off naturally -- under no pressure or time schedule.

I think it also helps that I don't read gossip magazines or care about celebrities. Their lives and lifestyle have no bearing on mine, so why should I pay attention?

kwinkle1980 · July 2011

haleymay18:
I have already gained 21 lbs. That is a 1lb per week (actually more because I get the two free weeks before conception). Anyways, I don't care. I just got some spanx & they make me care EVEN less. Although my MIL told me that I am starting to look pregnant from behind which apparently I didn't with my last pregnancy. I must have been an optical illusion last time & now my body is displaying the God's honest truth of carrying another child. Its cool. I own it. I am not fat, I am gaining maternal tissue storage.

Yes Rock on! We women need to SHUT UP about weight and stop bashing each other--whether we are fat, thin, pregnant, whatever.

While we are at it, can we please start taking responsibility for ourselves and stop blaming the media, the celebrities, the models, the music...bleah! None of that stuff controls us.

beka0404 · July 2011

indomesticbliss:
Personally, I see a lot of the post-baby weight loss as another mommy competition.

Word. Times 1,000.

ETA: The magazine covers and the celebrity gossip? I'm not buying what they're selling and I am thankful that I don't earn a living based on snapping back to a post-baby sexxxy bod.

Here's an interesting link that moves away from the wight aspect and focuses on the perfectionism side of mommyrexia: https://mommyish.com/pregnancy-health/doctor-on-today-show-slams-mommyrexia-as-part-of-perfectionist-culture-imposed-on-mothers

L8ebugs · July 2011

I saw the segment this morning too, and had read an article about this issue a few weeks ago as well. I agree with many of the points that other posters are making about women needing to focus on a healthy baby and not obsess about exactly how many pounds you did (or didn't gain) and how quickly you lost it all post pregnancy.

One thing the other article I had read talked about though that I didn't notice in the Today segment, was that even if Baby comes out healthy, if Mom isn't getting good nutrition during pregnancy it can cause problems for her down the road. If you don't get enough calcium while pregnant, it doesn't mean your baby won't have strong bones, it means your baby will leach calcium out of your bones making you much more likely to have osteoporosis when you're older. Healthy eating and moderate exercise during pregnancy isn't just to make baby healthy and strong, it's to make sure that mom stays healthy and strong, long enough to be able to chase after Baby and grandkids down the line.

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